Peter Essick's New Books Shows Environmental Degradation

These devastating photographs featured in the new book 'Your Beautiful, Fragile World: The Nature and Environmental Photographs of Peter Essick' showcases the disheartening environmental degradation inflicted by human activities. The photojournalist picked captures from when he was on assignment for National Geographic magazine. The images were taken around the world, from the global warming-affected arctic circle to the smoggy skies of Los Angeles. The breathtaking shots manage to demonstrate the natural beauty of the planet in contrast to the horrifying effects of too much human interference.

These altered landscapes not only depict Earth's gut wrenching environmental degradation, but Essick does this in a way that is both beautiful and emotional. Whether the change is subtle or striking, it is clear that human activity can have a very averse effect on their surroundings.